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Asphalt vs. Concrete: Your Baltimore Pavement Contractor explains

Friday, March 1st, 2013

PTG_Feb25

When it comes to any pavement project, property owners and facility managers have two options: Asphalt or Concrete. Which pavement has the most benefits? Which will last longer? Which makes the most sense for your specific job and, most importantly, your budget?

“There are three main factors to consider: initial cost, time to first rehabilitation, and cost of total reconstruction or major rehabilitation at the 40- to 50-year mark,” said Dave Newcomb, P.E., PhD, vice president of research and technology with the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA).

Asphalt vs. Concrete

  1. Cost: While initial cost should not be your primary concern, let’s be honest; initial cost is a huge factor. On average, the initial cost of concrete is approximately 35% higher than the cost of asphalt. However, the NAPA and American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) recommend looking at maintenance and rehabilitation costs over initial costs. According to the Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota, federally funded studies have shown that concrete Interstate pavements cost 13-28% less in the long run than asphalt Interstate pavements.
  2. Durability: Typically, asphalt performs better in the extreme conditions than concrete does. Also, concrete does not react well to salt, which is commonly used as a de-icing agent. Salt can damage the surface of the concrete and cause it to pit and/or spawl.
  3. Maintenance & Rehabilitation: According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation the average life expectancy of concrete pavement is 27.5 years before repair, while asphalt pavement has an average life expectancy of only 15.5 years before repair.
  4. Overlay: One of the main benefits of asphalt is the ability to install resurfacing layers (overlay). This provides a much more cost effective alternative to complete reconstruction. When concrete pavement has reached the end of its’ lifespan, you will need to completely remove the existing concrete and reconstruct the area.

So which pavement is better?

“Concrete and asphalt are comparable in many ways,” said Scott Haislip, director of streets and roads with the ACPA. There is no clear cut winner.

If you have any further questions about Asphalt vs. Concrete, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! You can check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

  1. Asphalt versus Concrete Public Works Magazine
  2. Concrete vs. Asphalt Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota

Concrete Cracking: Is it time to call your Baltimore Concrete Contractor?

Friday, January 11th, 2013

When it comes to your concrete, whether it is a driveway, sidewalk, or parking lot, it will eventually crack. That is just life. Even the best concrete cracks eventually. The key to concrete longevity is to address these cracks as they happen…before they get out of control.

Remember the old adage, “a stitch in time saves nine?” Well, the same holds true for concrete. Addressing a small crack when it happens is much easier and much more cost-effective than trying to fix larger or multiple cracks.

When your concrete pavement begins to show signs of wear and tear, you need the help of an expert. So call the concrete experts at PTG Enterprises before that small crack becomes a major issue. Our crews are the best available and they use only the best materials and equipment around.

Concrete Cracking FAQs

  1. What Causes Concrete Cracking? Well, there is no one answer. Cracking is typically the result of several factors, including drying shrinkage, thermal contraction, restraint (external or internal) to shortening, subgrade settlement, and applied loads.
  2. Can Concrete Cracking be prevented? Yes and no. With proper concrete maintenance, concrete longevity can be increased, but eventually all concretes will crack.
  3. All Concrete Contractors are the same, right? No! Just as in any profession, there are good and bad concrete contractors. And if you choose a bad contractor, your concrete could fail quicker than normal. Improper installation is one of the number one causes of concrete failure.

Do yourself a favor and call PTG Enterprises for all of your concrete needs, both installation and repair. PTG Enterprises are experts with commercial concrete jobs. We work closely with you to ensure the details of the project are fully understood, and that timetables are met.

Our crews are extremely familiar with all types of concrete paving, so you know the job will look professional and last for years to come.

If you have any further questions, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Commercial Snow Removal in Baltimore

Friday, January 4th, 2013

January is here and we have already had our first snow sighting. This is great for the kids, but a headache for business owners, like you. Snowfall means a disruption to your normal business. And in today’s economy, you cannot afford to lose a day of income.

But here are a few things to keep in mind this winter season:

  1. Safety is Important: Ignoring snow removal could be more costly than paying a commercial snow removal company. For starters, ignoring snow removal means a disruption to your business, a disruption you most likely cannot afford as a small business owner. Secondly, if you ignore snow removal and a customer slips and injures themselves on your property, you could be in for some trouble. If this happens, you could be held liable. So don’t ignore snow removal.
  2. Professionals are Professionals for a Reason: We understand that commercial snow removal can be expensive, but trying to tackle the job yourself could be damaging to your asphalt parking lot, which could cost you even more money! It is probably best to leave this job to the professionals. They have the knowledge and equipment to get the job done right without damaging your parking lot.

Still, if damage does occur to your asphalt parking lot, don’t panic; pick up the phone and call PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement repair projects and have the experience you need.

If you have any further questions, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Now is the Time to line up your Spring Pavement Needs

Thursday, December 13th, 2012

As a business owner or homeowner, budgeting is the key to financial security. This holds true for everything from family vacations and home improvement projects in the residential world to employee salaries and facility maintenance in the commercial industry. Luckily, we at PTG Enterprises understand this need for constant planning. That is why we are happy to provide you with a proposal so that you can organize your spring property needs now.

Winter is the perfect time to line up your spring pavement needs!

Whether it is a parking lot, a cement sidewalk, a dumpster pad that needs removing and replacing, or perhaps seal coating and striping; PTG has you covered. Give us a call or go to our website to request a proposal today!

We’ll meet with you and perform a site visit to ensure we’re familiar with every aspect of the project. You will then receive a thorough, detailed estimate and proposal written in an easy to understand format.

Why PTG Enterprises?

When your asphalt or pavement is beginning to show signs of wear and tear, you need an expert. You need PTG Enterprises! Our crews are the best available and they use only the best materials and equipment around.

We have been in the asphalt paving, concrete, and masonry business for more than a decade and we’ve worked with homeowners, property managers, architects, and business owners, just like you.

You can contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! You can also check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

The Different Types of Pavement explained by a Baltimore Asphalt Contractor

Friday, December 7th, 2012

Did you know that there are several different types of pavement? If not, then you have come to the right place. This week PTG Enterprises, an asphalt and concrete paving company serving Maryland, DC, and Virginia, has outlined one of these pavements below.

Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA): Hot Mix Asphalt is used in everything from runways at busy commercial airports – like Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), Oakland International, or McCarren – to racetracks and more! In fact, of the 88 tracks used in the NASCAR Short Track series, 66 are asphalt.

Benefits of Hot Mix Asphalt

  • Quick Construction: HMA’s speed of construction makes it an ideal choice for high traffic areas like airports, highways, and racetracks. It is also easily rehabbed.
  • Durability: Asphalt is designed to stand up to any load, from passenger cars to heavy trucks to airplanes.
  • Noise Pollution: HMA produces a pavement with less noise pollution than the competition.
  • Smooth Ride: HMA is known for its smooth ride.
  • Cost effective: Asphalt has the lowest life cycle cost and the highest residual value of any pavement around.

No matter the application, asphalt pavements are the easy choice.

Have a Pavement Project you need completed? Call PTG Today!

When you hire PTG, you will receive the best customer service in the industry.  We provide prompt proposals, competitive bids, and top notch management to every aspect pavement projects, from beginning to end.

We will show up as scheduled, perform the project as contracted, and leave you with a smile on your face!

If you have any further questions, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

What Causes Asphalt Pavement Deterioration?

Thursday, November 29th, 2012

Asphalt pavement is both durable and resilient. And it has to be. Asphalt pavement takes a beating on a daily basis. Between regular traffic and Mother Nature, your pavement needs to be strong. However, over time, even the toughest asphalt will start to deteriorate.

What Causes Asphalt Pavement Deterioration?

There are actually a few likely causes of pavement deterioration, including:

  1. Natural Wear and Tear: Over time, the materials that make up asphalt begin to deteriorate. The liquid asphalt binder, the glue that holds the pavement together, begins to lose its natural elasticity and starts to break down. During this process, the asphalt also loses its natural resistance to water, making the pavement even more susceptible to rain, snow, freezing and thawing, and more. Once this happens, cracking and other forms of deterioration are not far behind.
  2. Failures in Construction: Improperly installed asphalt can be a large reason for the deterioration of your pavement. Failures in construction can include: improperly compacted base, over or under compaction of the asphalt, improper temperature during application, poor drainage, and so much more.

Types of Asphalt Deterioration

  1. 1. Cracking: Cracking comes in many different forms, from alligatoring and edge cracks to slippage, reflection, and more.
  2. 2. Disintegration: This type of deterioration includes potholes, raveling, and the like.
  3. 3. Distortion: The result of improper pavement construction and the deterioration of the underlying base, distortion includes channels or ruts, corrugations and shoving, grade depressions, upheaval, and utility cut depressions.

When asphalt is installed properly and well maintained, it can last for 25 years or more! So trust your asphalt to a contractor with a proven track record of success, a contractor like Patrick Gillen of PTG Enterprises.

PTG Enterprises: Your Baltimore Asphalt Contractor

The asphalt experts at PTG Enterprises have managed hundreds of Maryland, DC, and Virginia pavement projects and have the experience you need.

When you hire PTG, you can be rest assured that you will receive the best customer service in the industry. PTG provides prompt proposals, competitive bids, and top notch management to every aspect of the project from beginning to end. We will show up as scheduled, perform the project as contracted, and leave you with a smile on your face!

If you have any further questions, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today!

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

More Asphalt Maintenance Options from your Baltimore Asphalt Contractor

Friday, November 16th, 2012

When it comes to running a successful business, image is everything. And believe it or not, your parking lot plays a big role in your customer or client’s perception of your business. After all, the parking lot is the first experience that many clients will have with your company. And remember, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

So don’t let your asphalt parking lot give your clients the wrong idea about your business. Contact PTG Enterprises, your Baltimore asphalt contractor, and ask how we can rehabilitate your parking lot.

  1. Asphalt Patching: A common asphalt repair technique, patching is used to commonly correct potholes and large cracks. Patching consists of filling the affected areas with hot or cold asphalt mix.
  2. Asphalt Replacement: When damage is more severe, removal and replacement may be your best option. This procedure involves the removal and replacement of the deteriorated area.
  3. Asphalt Resurfacing: In more severe cases, overlaying, also known as resurfacing, involves the complete re-paving of your asphalt surface.
  4. And more!

What asphalt maintenance procedure makes the most sense for you? Well, the only way to truly know is to contact PTG Enterprises. We will meet with you and perform a site visit to inspect your asphalt surface. We will determine the best course of action and provide you with a thorough, detailed estimate and proposal written in an easy to understand format.

Then, if you decide to hire PTG, we will show up as scheduled, perform the project as contracted, and leave you, the client, feeling satisfied!

If you have any further questions, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of Maryland, DC, and Virginia pavement projects and have the experience you need.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Hurricane Sandy and Concrete and Asphalt Repair in Baltimore, Maryland

Friday, November 2nd, 2012

Hurricane Sandy brought with her high winds, torrential downpours, flooding, and devastation. As a result, countless roadways, parking lots, sidewalks, and more were damaged up and down the east coast.

Was your business one of the unfortunate victims of Hurricane Sandy? If so, it is important to act quickly. For starters, you do not want to inconvenience your customers or employees. Secondly, delaying repairs could allow cracks, potholes, and more to worsen, making repairs harder and ultimately more expensive. Luckily, PTG Enterprises is here to help!

Our services include:

  • Asphalt Paving and Repair: The asphalt experts at PTG are able to patch small asphalt issues or complete entire parking lot renovations!
  • Concrete Paving and Repair: Regardless of the size or scope of the concrete project, PTG can make it happen! PTG has the experience and the knowledge to analyze and diagnose any problem and offer the correct fix at a reasonable price.
  • And Much More!

The PTG Experience

When you hire PTG, you can be rest assured that you will receive the best customer service in the industry. PTG provides prompt proposals, competitive bids, and top notch management to every aspect of the project from beginning to end. We will show up as scheduled, perform the project as contracted, and leave you with a smile on your face!

If you have any further questions, please contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of Maryland, DC, and Virginia pavement projects and have the experience you need.

Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Permeable Paving: Sustainable, Environmentally Friendly Pavement

Friday, October 19th, 2012

Throughout the United States, municipalities are passing ordinances to dictate the use of permeable pavement in new construction projects. This is because permeable paving is incredibly beneficial, especially in terms of sustainability.

Benefits of Permeable Pavement

  • Storm Water Runoff: Permeable paving eliminates pollutants and contaminants from water drain off. Unlike other pavements, permeable systems filter rainwater back into the soil, instead of carrying pollutants through storm drains to a nearby stream or river.
  • Erosion: Permeable paving also lessens stream erosion by filtering water into the soil instead of nearby streams and rivers. This lessens water to overflow stream banks.
  • Reduce Irrigation Demands: Because it filters water into the soil, permeable pavement lessens manmade irrigation demands.
  • Falling Water Tables: With so many impermeable surfaces, permeable pavement helps recharge falling water tables and relieve flooding in flood prone areas.
  • Heat Island Effect: By allowing water to filtrate into the ground, the surface and surrounding area temperatures will be cooler than a hard impervious surface.
  • Repairs: Permeable pavement is less costly to repair.
  • Aesthetics: Grey concrete can be boring. Permeable paving, meanwhile, comes in a wide variety of styles. From stone or concrete pavers to pervious concrete and more.

PTG Enterprises: Permeable Paving in MarylandWhen we arrive, we’ll prepare the site and get to work. Each phase of the project will be executed with an attention to detail that other paving contractors don’t possess. We’ll establish timetables and plans that ensure the job gets done quickly, without negatively impacting you. And when we complete the project, we’ll make sure to clean up, as well.

For more information, or to schedule a site visit, contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today!

When you hire PTG, you’ll work with owner Patrick Gillen from start to finish. This process begins with an initial site visit, a pre-construction meeting and setting expectations for the client and crew. Communication is our watchword, and you’ll receive regular reports on your project.

Check PTG Enterprises out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Asphalt: The Green Pavement Option :: Baltimore Asphalt Contractor

Friday, October 12th, 2012

Asphalt is an excellent pavement choice for so many reasons. But did you know that asphalt is even a good choice for the environment? According to Dr. Howard Marks of the Asphalt Pavement Alliance, “The APA’s newest publication scientifically documents the beneficial effects asphalt pavements can have on water quality.”

Asphalt: The Green Pavement

  • Asphalt is one of the most recyclable products around.
  • “For improved stormwater management, clean drinking water, and reduced roadside pollution, asphalt pavements are clean and environmentally beneficial,” added Marks.
  • Asphalt’s smooth nature saves fuel. ““In fact, it has been documented that a road maintenance program that increases pavement smoothness only slightly could reduce annual vehicle fuel consumption by up to 10 percent on those roads,” said Marks.
  • Asphalt pavement and reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) DO NOT leach petroleum into the earth.
  • Asphalt has a small carbon footprint. “When determining the carbon footprint of anything, it’s important to count everything, and to make sure you don’t count anything twice,” said Marks. “Both initial construction and a 50-year life-cycle were analyzed. In all cases, the carbon footprints of the asphalt pavements were found to be less than 30 percent of equivalent Portland cement concrete pavements.”
  • And so much more!

From production to paving to rehabilitation to recycling, asphalt pavements minimize impact on the environment.

For more information, or to schedule a site visit, contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777, or click here today!

PTG Enterprises is a contracting, consulting and project management business dedicated to serving commercial clients throughout Maryland, DC, and Virginia with asphalt and concrete paving services. We have…

  • Prepared thousands of Pavement Condition Inspections.
  • Contracted and managed millions of dollars in work.
  • Supervised and performed quality controls of other contractor’s work.
  • Assisted with budgeting and estimating for future and upcoming pavement projects.
  • Performed “special pavement projects” which entail specific tasks within certain timelines.
  • And so much more!

Check PTG Enterprises out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

APA releases white paper on carbon footprint

Pavement smoothness and fuel economy

Cleaner Water With Asphalt! – APA releases new white paper